Ground anchor bracket for multiple wall braces

ABSTRACT

A ground anchor assembly for supporting at least two wall braces includes an elongated anchor having a helical lower portion that is configured to engage a ground or floor surface upon rotation of the elongated anchor. A multi-connection bracket has a central portion with an opening that receives an upper portion of the elongated anchor and lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the central portion of the bracket. The lateral portions of the bracket are configured to each engage a lower end of a wall brace. A fastener is engaged with a hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor when the bracket is positioned over the elongated anchor, such that a head of the fastener contacts the central portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the elongated anchor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/379,282, filed Aug. 25, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to wall braces used to support upright wall panels or forms, and more particularly to ground anchor assemblies and devices for tilt-up wall braces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is generally known to temporarily brace precast concrete structures, such as wall panels or forms or the like, in an upright or vertical orientation with tilt-up wall braces that extend at an angle from the floor or ground to an elevated portion of the wall. For example, prefabricated concrete wall panels may be formed on a flat surface and subsequently lifted or tilted up to an upright or vertical orientation. Tilt-up wall braces may be attached to the wall section before or after lifting and positioning the wall section, and once the wall section is roughly in the desired position, the lower ends of the braces may be secured to the floor or ground and the length of the brace may be incrementally adjusted to fine-tune the vertical alignment of the wall section. The tilt-up wall braces generally remain in place until additional structural components are secured to the wall, such as a roof structure being installed over the supported or braced walls, thus providing sufficient stability to the building structure to allow the braces to be safely removed without the tilt-up walls becoming unstable or shifting. The wall braces commonly include heavy steel poles and/or adjustable length pipe sections, where an upper end of each brace has a plate or other coupling that secures to the wall or wall section and similarly a lower end of each brace provides a plate or anchor that engages the ground or floor surface. It is desirable for these wall braces to be secured in place to be able to maintain alignment of the wall under various conditions, including wind forces acting on the wall and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a ground anchor assembly or device with a multi-connection bracket for supporting at least two wall braces. The upper ends of the wall braces may be attached to or placed in contact with one or more wall panels or structures, while the lower ends of the wall braces may be attached at a common ground anchor, such as an elongated anchor having a helical or spiral or threaded lower portion that engages a ground surface, such as upon rotation of the elongated anchor. The multi-connection bracket engages an upper portion of the ground anchor and provides multiple attachment locations, such as two locations on a T-shaped bracket, to each engage and support the lower end of a wall brace. To support the engagement of multiple wall braces at the multi-connection bracket, the lower end of the ground anchor has an anchoring structure that is configured to withstand supportive forces transmitted from the attached wall braces. The ground anchor assembly thereby provides a single secure attachment point for at least two wall braces, so as reduce the ground space occupied by wall brace anchors and make the wall bracing process generally more efficient, stable, and reliable.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a ground anchor assembly for supporting at least two wall braces includes an elongated anchor that has a helical lower portion that is configured to engage a ground surface, such as upon rotation of the elongated anchor. A bracket has a central or anchor portion with an opening that receives an upper portion of the elongated anchor. The bracket also has lateral or brace portions that extend laterally from opposing sides of the central portion of the bracket, where the lateral portions of the bracket are configured to each engage a lower end of a wall brace. A fastener is engaged at the upper portion of the elongated anchor and has a head that contacts the central portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the elongated anchor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a multi-connection bracket is provided for a ground anchor that supports at least two wall braces. The multi-connection bracket includes an anchor portion that has a plurality of walls surrounding an opening that extends generally linearly through the anchor portion. The walls are configured to engage around an upper portion of an elongated ground anchor that is disposed in and extends longitudinally along the opening. At least two brace portions extend laterally from the anchor portion and each configured to engage a lower end of a wall brace. Each brace portion includes a hole configured to receive a fastener that engages the lower end of the wall brace.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for supporting at least two wall braces at a single ground anchor. A lower portion of a ground anchor is engaged into a ground surface upon rotation of the ground anchor, where the lower portion includes a helical shape. A bracket is disposed at an upper portion of the ground anchor, where the upper portion extends through an opening in an anchor portion of the bracket. A fastener engages with the upper portion of the ground anchor, where a head of the fastener contacts about the anchor portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the ground anchor. A lower end of two wall braces attach to brace portions of the bracket that extend laterally from opposing sides of the anchor portion of the bracket.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of upright wall panels supported by pairs of wall braces that are connected to a ground anchor assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged section of the perspective view of FIG. 1, showing one of the ground anchor assemblies engaged into the ground;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ground anchor assembly of FIG. 1A, shown disengaged from the ground;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a multi-connection bracket of the ground anchor assembly shown in FIG. 2, taken from an upper end of the bracket;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-connection bracket shown in FIG. 3, taken from a bottom end of the bracket;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the multi-connection bracket shown in FIG. 3, with a portion of a fastener shown engaged with a helical anchor, both illustrated in dashed lines;

FIG. 6 is another elevational view of the multi-connection bracket shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the multi-connection bracket shown in FIG. 3, with bolts shown extending through lateral portions of the bracket to engage the wall braces; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the multi-connection bracket shown in FIG. 3, with an interior of the bracket shown engaged with a helical anchor, illustrated in dashed lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a ground anchor assembly or device 10 is provided with a multi-connection bracket 12 for engaging and supporting at least two wall braces 14. The wall braces 14, such as, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, generally extend at an angle from the floor or ground 16 to an elevated portion of a wall section 18 to temporarily support the wall sections 18 in a desired upright or vertical position, such as during construction of an associated building or structure or the like. The upper ends 14 a of the wall braces 14 may be attached at or temporarily fixed to the wall section 18, such as with fasteners, anchors, couplings, or the like to secure the upper ends 14 a of the wall braces 14 before or after lifting and positioning the wall sections and before or after securing or attaching the lower ends 14 b of the wall braces 14 to the ground or an anchor assembly 10. The lower ends 14 b of the two or more wall braces 14 may be attached at the multi-connection bracket 12 of the ground anchor assembly 10, where the ground anchor assembly 10 may include an elongated anchor 20 having a lower portion 20 a with a helical or spiral or threaded shape that is configured to engage the ground surface 16. Thus, a single anchor 20 and associated anchor assembly 10 may be driven into and secured in the ground to simultaneously support multiple wall braces 14.

The wall braces 14 disposed between the wall and ground attachment points 22 a, 22 b (FIG. 1) may extend generally linearly between the upper and lower ends 14 a, 14 b of the wall braces 14 to provide direct supportive load paths. The wall braces 14 may comprise steel poles, adjustable length pipe sections, or the like, such as the illustrated wall braces 14, which each provide length adjustability via an adjustable screw 24 engaged at the lower end 14 of a pole section 26 of the wall brace 14 (FIG. 2). These adjustable screws 24 thread into and out of a hole formed in a rotation connection or the lower end of the pole 26 to provide threaded adjustability to the overall length of the wall braces 14. It is also contemplated that additional embodiments may also include different types or sizes of wall braces attached at a single anchor assembly.

To secure the lower end 14 b of each wall brace 14 to the ground or floor surface, the ground anchor assembly 10 may be provided with an anchor 20 that has a lower portion 20 a that is driven into or otherwise anchored with the floor or ground surface. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the lower portion 20 b of the elongated anchor 20 includes a central shank 28 that may be surrounded by a helical or spiral or threaded portion 30. The illustrated helical portion 30 is divided into multiple sections 30 a, 30 b, 30 c (FIG. 2) along the central shank 28, such that each helical section can be configured differently, such as with different thread angles, to engage at various depths of ground, such as ground that has different soil compressions and/or types. However, it is understood that the helical portion may alternatively be formed continuously along the shank portion and/or formed in various shapes or thread patterns and arranged different ways to provide the function of engaging the ground and preventing vertical withdrawal of the elongated anchor from the ground, such as due to forces acting on the wall sections.

The upper portion 20 b of the elongated anchor 20 is attached to the multi-connection bracket 12 (FIG. 2). The bracket 12 has a central portion 32 with an opening 34 that receives the upper portion 20 b through the opening 34 in the bracket 12. The central portion 32 may have a tubular shape or a substantially rectangular-shaped housing with an opening extending generally centrally through the central portion 32, as shown in FIGS. 3-8. The opening 34 may also be shaped to correspond with the shape of the upper portion 20 b of the elongated ground anchor 20 that extends through the central portion 32 for securing the central portion 32 to the ground anchor 20. As shown for example in FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment the opening 34 has a generally square cross-sectional shape that corresponds with the cross-sectional shape of the upper portion 20 a of the elongated anchor 20.

When the central portion 32 of the bracket 12 is positioned over the elongated ground anchor 20, as shown in FIG. 5, a fastener 35, such as a bolt, may extend through the opening 34 in the central portion 32 and engage the upper portion 20 b of the elongated anchor 20, such that a head 35 a of the fastener 35 contacts an upper surface of the bracket 12 at the central portion thereof for securing the multi-connection bracket 12 to the elongated anchor 20. A threaded shank 35 b of the fastener 35 may threadably engage or secure in a corresponding hole in the upper portion 20 b of the elongated anchor 20. The hole in the upper portion 20 b of the elongated anchor 20 may extend generally centrally into the upper portion 20 b in substantial alignment with the longitudinal extent of the elongated anchor 20. With use of the threaded connection between the fastener 35 and the elongated anchor 20, it is conceivable that the fastener 35 may operate to simultaneously adjust the length of both or all the wall braces 14 attached to the ground anchor 20 by threading the fastener 35 into and out of the upper portion 20 b of the elongated ground anchor 20.

To provide the multiple connection locations for the wall braces 14 on the multi-connection bracket 12, lateral portions 36 are provided extending from sides of the central portion 32 of the multi-connection bracket 12 and each lateral portion provides an attachment feature 36 a or area that is configured to engage the lower end 14 b of one of the wall braces 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-8, the two lateral portions 36 extend generally orthogonally from opposing sides the of the central portion 32, in general linear alignment with each other to generally form a T-shape. However, it is contemplated that in alternative embodiments, the lateral portions may be differently shaped and/or additional lateral portions or the like may be provided on the bracket to attach and support additional wall braces. The illustrated lateral portions 36 each have a pair of arms 38 that are generally planar and spaced apart substantially equally from each other to engage opposing sides of the lower end 14 b of a wall brace 14 disposed between the pair of arms 38. A shown in FIG. 7, the pair of arms 38 may each include a hole 40 that is configured to receive a connector or fastener 42 that extends between the pair of arms 36 for engaging through the lower end portion of the wall brace 14, such as an aperture in the adjustable screw 24 (FIG. 2) at the lower end of the wall brace 14. The fasteners 42 that are illustrated engaging ends of the wall braces at the attachment feature 36 a include bolts secured in place with nuts, although it is understood that the fasteners may also or alternatively include rivets, cotter pins, or other conceivable types of fasteners. It is also conceivable that additional embodiments of the multi-connection bracket may be integrally formed as part of the ground anchor or permanently fixed to the ground anchor, such as via welding, adhesive, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the central portion 32 of the multi-connection bracket 12 may have lateral openings 44 that align with each other through the side walls of the central portion 32, such as shown extending in substantial alignment with the lateral portions 36 of the multi-connection bracket 12. The lateral openings may receive an additional fastener that passes laterally through the elongated ground anchor 20 and/or the fastener 35, such to provide additional support at the interface with the multi-connection bracket 12.

Accordingly, the method for supporting at least two wall braces at a single ground anchor includes engaging the lower portion of the ground anchor into a ground surface by rotating the ground anchor about its longitudinal axis, such that the helical shape at the lower portion of the ground anchor drives into and secures at a location, such as to drive downward and secure into the ground soil. Securing a ground anchor in such a manner is desirable to form a secured anchor connection, although it is desirable to reduce the number of secured anchor connections to reduce the disturbance to the ground and to reduce the labor to set a tilt-up wall brace. The multi-connection bracket is, thus, positioned over an upper portion of the secured ground anchor, such that the upper portion of the ground anchor extends into or through the opening in the central portion of the bracket. A fastener is then engaged with the hole in the upper portion of the ground anchor, such that a head of the fastener contacts the central portion of the bracket about the hole to secure the bracket to the ground anchor. With the multi-connection bracket secured to the ground anchor, a lower end of a wall braces may be attached to each of the lateral portions of the bracket that extend from the sides of the central portion of the bracket. With respect to the general installation or attachment or formation, the steps discussed herein may be performed in various different sequences from those discussed to result engaging, disengaging, or forming the ground anchor assembly or components thereof.

For purposes of this disclosure, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in this specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law. The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A ground anchor assembly for supporting at least two wall braces, said ground anchor assembly comprising: an elongated anchor comprising a lower portion with a helical shape that is configured to engage a ground surface; a bracket comprising (i) a central portion with an opening that receives an upper portion of the elongated anchor and (ii) lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the central portion of the bracket, wherein the lateral portions of the bracket are configured to each engage a lower end of a wall brace; and a fastener engaged at the upper portion of the elongated anchor and comprising a head that contacts the central portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the elongated anchor.
 2. The ground anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastener engages a hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor and extends in general alignment with a longitudinal extent of the elongated anchor.
 3. The ground anchor assembly of claim 2, wherein the fastener includes a threaded engagement with the hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor and is configured, upon rotation, to adjust a length of the ground anchor assembly.
 4. The ground anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the elongated anchor comprises a plurality of helical sections configured to engage into the ground at different vertical levels.
 5. The ground anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the lateral portions of the bracket each include a pair of arms that are configured to engage opposing sides of the lower end of one of the wall braces supported by the bracket.
 6. The ground anchor assembly of claim 5, wherein a connector extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms.
 7. The ground anchor assembly of claim 1, wherein the lateral portions of the bracket extend orthogonally from the central portion, and wherein the central portion comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing with the opening extending centrally through the central portion of the bracket.
 8. A multi-connection bracket for a ground anchor that supports at least two wall braces, said multi-connection bracket comprising: an anchor portion having a plurality of walls surrounding an opening that extends generally linearly through the anchor portion, wherein the walls are configured to engage around an upper portion of an elongated ground anchor that is disposed in and extends longitudinally along the opening; and at least two brace portions extending laterally from the anchor portion and each configured to engage a lower end of a wall brace, wherein each brace portion includes a hole configured to receive a fastener that engages the lower end of the wall brace.
 9. The multi-connection bracket of claim 8, wherein, when the anchor portion is engaged with the elongated ground anchor, a fastener extends longitudinally into the opening of the anchor portion and engages the upper portion of the elongated ground anchor.
 10. The multi-connection bracket of claim 9, wherein the plurality of walls comprise an upper edge surface that is configured to engage a head of the fastener that is threadably coupled with the upper portion of the elongated ground anchor.
 11. The multi-connection bracket of claim 8, wherein the brace portions extend from opposing lateral sides of the anchor portion to generally evenly distribute loads from the engaged wall braces to the elongated ground anchor.
 12. The multi-connection bracket of claim 8, wherein the brace portions each include a pair of arms that extend laterally from the anchor portion and are configured to engage opposing sides of the lower ends of the wall braces.
 13. The multi-connection bracket of claim 12, wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a planar extension of a wall of the plurality of walls of the anchor portion.
 14. The multi-connection bracket of claim 13, wherein the anchor portion comprises a rectangular box shape having two opposing walls that are spaced equally from each other and have portions that extend laterally to provide the pair of arms of the brace portions.
 15. The multi-connection bracket of claim 12, wherein a connector extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms.
 16. A method for supporting at least two wall braces at a single ground anchor, said method comprising: engaging a lower portion of a ground anchor into a ground surface upon rotation of the ground anchor, wherein the lower portion includes a helical shape; disposing a bracket at an upper portion of the ground anchor, wherein the upper portion extends through an opening in an anchor portion of the bracket; engaging a fastener with the upper portion of the ground anchor, wherein a head of the fastener contacts about the anchor portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the ground anchor; and attaching a lower end of two wall braces to brace portions of the bracket extending laterally from opposing sides of the anchor portion of the bracket.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the brace portions of the bracket each include a pair of arms that are configured for the respective lower end of the wall brace to be engaged between the pair of arms.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a fastener extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms.
 19. The multi-connection bracket of claim 17, wherein the anchor portion comprises a plurality of walls surrounding the opening that extends generally linearly through the anchor portion, and wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a planar extension of a wall of a plurality of walls of the anchor portion.
 20. The multi-connection bracket of claim 17, wherein the anchor portion comprises a rectangular box shape having two opposing walls that are spaced equally from each other and have portions that extend laterally to provide the pair of arms of the brace portions. 